Self-opening greeting cards



Dec. 2, l969 w. N. JULIN 3,481,061

SELF-OPENING GREETING CARDS Filed Aug. 15, 1967 I N VEN TOR.

"WILL/AM N. JuLfN BMM AT TQRNE Y United States Patent O 3,481,061SELF-OPENING GREETING CARDS William N. Julin, 201 W. South St.,Monticello, Iowa` 52310 Filed Aug. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 660,779 Int. Cl.G09f 1 04, I/00 U.S. Cl. 40-124.1 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSUREThis invention shows a self-opening greeting card. The card isconstructed to have a main center surface and two side surfaces. Aresilient member connects the two side surfaces so that the cardautomatically opens upon removal from an envelope and remains open inits unconfined condition.

This invention relates generally to greeting cards and particularly toself-opening greeting cards which automaticaly open upon removal fromthe envelope in which they are mailed.

A large majority of the greeting cards, sympathy cards and other typesof cards available on the market today have messages printed on theinside as well as the outside of the card. It is therefore necessary forthe recipient to open the card upon its removal from the envelope.Because the card ordinarily received must be opened manually it would bea pleasant surprise to receive a card which opens automatically andunexpectedly -upon its removal from the envelope.

Recipients of greeting cards frequently arrange the cards in adecorative manner on tables, mantels, etc. In making such arrangementsthe cards are ordinarily partially opened to enable them to remainstanding without a supporting means. The card described herein iscapable of remaining open and easily stands while revealing the primaryportion of the greeting.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a greeting cardwhich automatically opens 'upon its removal from the envelope in whichit is received.

It is another object to provide such an envelope which is made of aunitary piece of foldable material.

It is another object to provide such a card with a resilient memberwhich causes the card to open automatically upon removal from anenvelope.

It is another object to provide such a card which easily stands in anopen position to provide a decorative object.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description and claims when read in view ofthe acompanying drawings wherein like numbers indicate like parts and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 shows a front view of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 shows a rear view of the invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the reference numeral indicates the automaticallyopening greeting card which constitutes this invention. The card isformed of a single unitary piece of material which can be cardboard orheavy gauge paper of the type ordinarily used in printing greetingcards. The card could also be composed of a lightweight plastic or anyother `material which is capable of retaining a printed message orpicture. The primary message of the greeting would be printed upon thesurface 11 and secondary messages could be printed upon the surfaces 12and 13. Alternatively either of the three surfaces, or all threesurfaces, could be used to form portions of a calendar. The exactcontent printed from the invention is not considered to form a part ofthe invention as it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to3,481,061 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 use the invention in manners other thansimply for greeting cards 0r calendars.

The single piece of material is folded `backwardly from the primarysurface 11 as indicated by reference numerals 14 and 15. The folds 1-4and 15 are perpendicular to the top and bottom of the card. The materialis then folded forward as indicated by reference numerals 16 and 17 tothereby form the two .side surfaces 12 and 13. The folds 16 and 17 areparallel to folds 14 and 15. Folds 16 and 17 therefore create twodouble-layered areas indicated by 21 and 22. The double-layered areasare fastened together by glue, stapler, or any other convenient method.As best shown in FIGURE 2 the double-layered areas 21 and 22respectively contain a hole 19 and 20. A resilient member, for example,a ruber band or light spring, is stretched between the two holes suchthat the surfaces 12 and 13 are biased otuwardly from the center surface11. The length of the resilient member 18 is such that in its unstrechedcondition it is shorter than the length of the center surface 11. Whenthe surfaces 12 and 13 are pressed against surface 11 the resilientmember is caused to stretch. Placement in an envelope holds the card inthe folded condition. Upon removal from the envelope the card snaps openbecause of the action of the resilient member. The card can also beopened by replacing the resilient member 18 with separate members whichindividualy extend from the back of surface 11 to the double-layeredareas 21 and 22.

These members could be individual springs or smaller length rubberbands. The size of the card and its exact proportions are not criticalto the operation and any size or configuration is within the scope ofthe invention.

In the card as shown the bottom portions of 12 and 13 are parallel tothe bottom edge of surface 11. These edges need not be so made and asloping bottom on surfaces 12 and 13 will cause the card to sit on anangle. Also the folds 14 and 15 need not be parallel and therefore thecard can be made more decorative simply by making these folds on apreselected angle.

Although this invention has been described with respect to a particularembodiment thereof, it is not to be so limited, as changes andmodifications may be made therein which are within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self opening greeting card comprising, a first plane surface, asecond plane surface pivotably associated with one side of said firstplane surface, a third plane surface pivotably associated with anotherside of said first plane surface, the axis of rotation of said secondand third plane surfaces being located at the opposite ends of a centerline of said first plane surface, said first, second and third plane'surfaces to normally rotate away from said first another for insertioninto a containing means, and a stretchable resilient means extendingbetween said second and third plane surfaces for causing said second andthird plane surfaces to normaly rotate away from said first surface whensaid card is removed from said containing means.

2. The greeting card of claim 1 wherein said axis of rotation aresubstantially parallel.

3. The greeting card of claim 1 wherein said second and third surfaceseach include a double layer portion, and said resilient means isconnected to said double layer portions.

4. The greeting card of claim 3 wherein said card is formed from aunitary piece of material and said first, second, and third surfaces areconfigured to form a base portion when said second and third surfacesare extended by said resilient means.

5. The greeting card of claim 2 wherein said axes of rotationrespectively coincide with two opposed sides of said first plane surfaceso that said first plane surface is foldably attached to said second andthird plane surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,971 12/1927 Auger 46--342,862,322 12/1958 Ziegler 40-124.1 2,984,920 5/1961 Acosta et a140-l24.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 824,004 11/ 1959 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner WENCESLAO I. CONTRERAS, AssistantExaminer

